Nov 25, 2021 / 22:41

Vietnam’s Covid-19 infections hit two-month high

Despite rising infections, the number of critical cases and deaths dropped after nearly two months of reopening the economy.

Vietnam saw 12,450 coronavirus cases on November 25, the highest single day figure reported in two months and a half, as a result of the flexible adaptation approach since October 2021.

Inside a Covid-19 Hospital in Hanoi. HNT Photo: Khanh Huy

The infections were detected in 59 out of 63 cities and provinces, with the majority found in the southern economic hubs like Ho Chi Minh City (1,582), Binh Duong (678), Ba Ria-Vung Tau (658), Dong Nai (543), and the Mekong Delta.

The latest infections brought the tally to 1.16 million, including more than 24,000 deaths. Currently, the number of active cases stays at 200,000.

Its one-week average was 10,666 per day.

In the last few days, fatalities have reached three-digit daily from several dozens in the past two months.

In summary, the number of Covid-19 infections nationwide is increasing sharply and is now close to the peak period (more than 14,000) while the daily average figure has nearly doubled that at the beginning of October.

But statistics by the Ministry of Health showed that the number of both critical cases and deaths plunged after Vietnam switched to the “living safely with Covid-19” strategy.

In reality, the number of patients treated in hospitals nationwide fell 20% and the fatalities halved compared to that two months ago.

In the Southeastern region (including Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, and Dong Nai) and the Mekong Delta, new infections rose from early October but both severe cases and deaths dropped.

In Hanoi, less than 1% of 2,600 patients treated in hospitals are in critical conditions, compared to 13% before.

Vaccination and early treatment are attributed to the dropping ratio of critical cases and deaths, the ministry said, noting that the new strategy on Covid-19 response is the right move.

Associate Prof. Tran Dac Phu, senior advisor to the Vietnam Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC), said vaccination remains a key factor in coping with the Covid-19 pandemic, emphasizing the role of 5K (masking – disinfection – distance – no gathering – medical declaration) in the new normal.

He highlighted the importance of early treatment and mobile medical stations in hotspots, saying that good care really helps in the context that the country switches to flexible adaptation to Covid-19.

Speaking at a national meeting today [November 25], Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Truong Son said with the current pandemic situation, the criterion of evaluating 100,000 new Covid-19 cases a week is no longer important. The current method is to focus on assessing the rate of serious patients, hospitalization, death, and treatment capacity.

Dr. Guido Hildner, Ambassador of Germany to Vietnam, (2nd left) hands over medical supplies to Vietnam on November 24. Photo: Embassy of Germany in Hanoi

International support

In support of Vietnam’s pandemic fight, international organizations and countries continue providing vaccines and medical equipment to the country.

On November 24, the German Embassy in Hanoi handed over 75 ventilators, 15 monitors, and 20000 pulse oximeters worth EUR825,000 (US$925,000) to the Hanoi Medical University Hospital.

“I am very pleased about this delivery of important medical equipment for the pandemic response in Vietnam. The equipment will support the intensive medical treatment of people severely ill with Covid-19 and contribute to their recovery. Germany stands with Vietnam in containing and overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic. We can only overcome the pandemic together. Germany will continue to support Vietnam to the best of its ability in the fight against the pandemic,” said Dr. Guido Hildner, Ambassador of Germany to Vietnam.

Earlier, Germany had provided a total of 3.45 million doses of Astra Zeneca vaccines to assist Vietnam’s vaccination campaign.

On the same day, a batch of 500,000 vaccine doses donated by the Government of Argentina arrived in Hanoi. Ambassador of Argentina to Vietnam Luis Pablo Maria Beltramino handed over the doses to the Ministry of Health.

On November 25, a batch of 1.54 million doses of AstraZeneca donated by Japan arrived in Hanoi. The vaccines were brought to Vietnam on aircraft of Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh who has ended his four-day visit to Japan starting November 22.